India Needs Multi-Fuel Strategy for Road Transport, Not Just EVs: TERI-PNGRB Study

Public Lokpal
September 30, 2026

A joint study by TERI and the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board asserts that a one-size-fits-all approach is impractical for India's road transport decarbonisation, urging a segmented, multi-fuel strategy.

Assessing six vehicle categories across multiple cities up to 2050, the report highlights that no single fuel performs best across technical, economic, environmental, and geopolitical parameters.

While electric vehicles dominate two-wheelers and last-mile mobility due to favorable economics and low operational emissions, other segments require diverse solutions.

CNG provides a strong, affordable transition fuel for passenger cars and light commercial vehicles, whereas LNG emerges as an attractive alternative for long-haul heavy freight.

Furthermore, the study notes that EV adoption faces hurdles including infrastructure constraints, refuelling times, payload penalties for heavy trucks, and a shift in energy security risks toward critical mineral supply chains.

Under India's current electricity mix, CNG frequently records a lower overall life-cycle environmental burden.

Ultimately, the report recommends accelerating electrification where viable while strategically expanding CNG and developing LNG corridors, alongside boosting battery recycling and domestic manufacturing to balance net-zero goals by 2070 with affordability and energy security.